Teen investigators use science to solve crimes at CSI Academy: In Cold Blood

With the popularity of forensic science and crime scene investigation television shows on the rise, the idea of becoming a forensic scientist is the ultimate dream for many science lovers. At Lipscomb University’s CSI Academy: In Cold Blood, these dreams were made into reality for several rising ninth- through twelfth-grade students for the first time.

 

The CSI Academy was a weeklong non-residential program that exposed seven students to the impact of DNA technology on forensic science. They were able to see and experience first-hand what it is like to be a forensic scientist by investigating a mock crime scene, where they were asked to collect and analyze evidence using several scientific methods they learned during the academy.

 

“This was the first time for Lipscomb to hold a camp like this and it turned out to be really fun for everyone involved,” said Ginger Reasonover, a Lipscomb campus school science teacher who worked with the academy.

 

The students spent the first day learning the fundamentals of forensic science and were shown how to take fingerprints and learn the difference between the various types of science. They also visited the medical examiner’s office and visited with Nashville policemen and their drug-sniffing dog.

 

“The visit with Metro Police was actually arranged by (the police department),” said Ben Hutchinson, professor of chemistry. “They contacted us after hearing about the academy and asked if they could participate.”

 

On the second day, the students were introduced to the mock crime scene where they obtained evidence such as fingerprints, a white powder and an inkpen. The fictional crime was the murder of a Belmont fan named Cecil DeBruin, who was found dead at the Allen Bell Tower. It was the students’ job to connect the dots and find out the identity of the killer.

 

“The students were divided into two groups and each group was given a specific thing to search for,” said Hutchinson. “The first group specialized in fingerprints and blood, and the second group focused on trace evidence.”

 

The scene of the crime was established at the Bell Tower, but the evidence led them to different various locations around McFarland Science Building: by the educational garden, on the roof and in the third floor bathroom.

 

Each student was given a CSI kit with forceps, evidence bags, tape for collecting fingerprints, and Q tips to collect blood.

 

 “We set up evidence such as a Coke can found at the bell tower with fingerprints on it and an index card that had fallen out of the victim’s pocket with notes written on it,” said Hutchinson. “Then we had the students bring them back to the lab to iodine fume the fingerprint and test the index card in the ink chromatography lab.”

 

The students learned how to collect evidence, and the proper methods and procedures to be followed on a crime scene. “The idea was to be as realistic and close to what actual forensic scientists do as possible,” said Hutchinson.

 

The students spent the next two days learning about how to test the evidence and what their findings meant.

 

On Thursday, the students spent the day with Lipscomb professor John Lowrance at the Aegis Lab, which is a real forensic lab in Nashville. There they learned about gel electrophoresis, which sorts and separates DNA strands. The students tested for DNA in the blood they found at the crime scene.

 

On Friday, the students reviewed and analyzed the evidence. They presented their theories of the murder of Cecil DeBruin to a jury of Lipscomb faculty. The killer, according to the students was Lipscomb professor Mike Bentries, who portrayed an overzealous Bison fan.

 

In the end, the students were proud to be able to participate in such an innovative and fun academy. CSI Academy: In Cold Blood is already being planned again for next year, said Hutchinson.

 

“We had an exciting week,” he said. “Taking a field trip to Aegis toxicology lab and then having Metro Police visit with a drug dog was just the icing on the cake. After hearing such positive feedback from all of the students, I can’t wait to do it all over again next year.”